This Elementary School Lunch Program Is Something Every School Should Implement
Sometimes brilliance is hiding under a simple solution. In an attempt to reduce waste and give back to families in need, elementary schools in Orange County, Florida, have started a straightforward yet genius lunch program, and it’s working wonders.
It’s called a ‘share table,’ and at it, students can leave any unwanted and unopened food or drink packages, so anyone can take an item they want off the table. In addition, those who may not have had enough to eat can pick up an extra snack to fill themselves up. And, if the school day is over and there’s still food on the table, administrators take it to the local food bank, church, or charity.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that as much as 20 public elementary schools in the county have a program like this in place. “Without this program, that would literally go in the dumpsters,” one local pastor said. “It really helps us out.”
One year ago, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a memo, endorsing this concept as “an innovative strategy to encourage the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste.”
(h/t popsugar)
In an attempt to reduce waste and give back to families in need, elementary schools in Orange County, Florida, have started a straightforward yet genius lunch program
Image credits: wuhanmommy
Students can leave any unwanted and unopened food or drink packages, so anyone can take an item they want off the table
Image credits: nhfcommunity
And those who may not have had enough to eat can pick up an extra snack to fill themselves up
Image credits: sustainable_america
Most people loved the concept and claimed it has spread even wider
Some, however, pointed out a few possible flaws
What do you think?
Makes me cry a little, to be honest. It's very heartwarming... and I can't bear to think of a child being hungry. Bravo to this school!
Wish they had this when I was a kid. I was often sent to school without enough food and was always starving :/
WTF?!?!?!?! Did you read the social media comments? Some schools have rules against kids sharing food with each other. What on earth? This is insanity. This program is great and it absolutely beyond blows my mind that some idiots would make rules to prevent the sharing of food, especially between friends. I'm sure this is some peanut b******t (kids who can't go near nuts should be taught how to properly protect themselves instead of trying to dictate the behaviour of the whole school). I'm naturally a very cynical person but even I didn't think anybody could be down on something like not wasting food. WTF?!?!?!
oh man, you should look up what grocery stores do with food past its best buy date. They legit just toss it out and forbid anyone from going into their dumpsters to take out any sealed food. Its absolute madness! Some places send their slightly past expiration date food to shelters or to food co-ops. but that is far from the norm. we are a horrible wasteful society.
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Makes me cry a little, to be honest. It's very heartwarming... and I can't bear to think of a child being hungry. Bravo to this school!
Wish they had this when I was a kid. I was often sent to school without enough food and was always starving :/
WTF?!?!?!?! Did you read the social media comments? Some schools have rules against kids sharing food with each other. What on earth? This is insanity. This program is great and it absolutely beyond blows my mind that some idiots would make rules to prevent the sharing of food, especially between friends. I'm sure this is some peanut b******t (kids who can't go near nuts should be taught how to properly protect themselves instead of trying to dictate the behaviour of the whole school). I'm naturally a very cynical person but even I didn't think anybody could be down on something like not wasting food. WTF?!?!?!
oh man, you should look up what grocery stores do with food past its best buy date. They legit just toss it out and forbid anyone from going into their dumpsters to take out any sealed food. Its absolute madness! Some places send their slightly past expiration date food to shelters or to food co-ops. but that is far from the norm. we are a horrible wasteful society.
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